Keep learning ‘meaningful’ as school year winds down

Published 12:29 pm, Tuesday, April 14, 2015

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Jennifer Seybert Tim Fischer\Reporter-Telegram

Jennifer Seybert Tim Fischer\Reporter-Telegram

Keep learning ‘meaningful’ as school year winds down

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It is definitely spring and the students have spring fever. With only about six weeks of school left, it is important to capitalize on the remaining time that we have with our students, who are ready for summer and full of energy, eagerness and excitement.

I am often asked how to get students (of all ages) through the last weeks of school before summer. Children are different, but these are the strategies that I have found to be most helpful (both at home and at school).

-- Keep the energy alive.

If students are energetic, whether at home or at school, capitalize on that energy and put them to work on engaging activities. Even chores can be exciting, For example, instead of having your children load the dishwasher, have them hand wash the dishes and make believe that you are living in the frontier without electricity. In the classroom, instead of reading about plant life, soil types and seeds, have your students plant seeds and watch them grow. Graph the development, journal about the growth and take pictures to make a collage.

-- Keep the children busy.

Busy students are productive students. Students should be busy from the first bell until the last bell. Boredom will make spring fever worse. So, as a teacher, plan activities that keep the students engaged. A classroom with bored students is miserable, as is a home with bored children.

It’s OK to have some down time or recess time, but keep those moments to a minimum. If a child is truly interested in the activity or project, he or she will stay engaged, excited and eager for more.

-- Keep the learning real.

Children know when the learning is authentic and when the learning is “busy work.” Keep the learning real, both in the classroom and at home, and your children will flourish. Spending excessive time on worksheets and other things that students do not value will be a waste of time.

For example, if you need to make a trip to the grocery store, ask your children to help plan the budget, calculate the cost, cut out coupons and discuss what is needed. Students must be able to see how the learning impacts their life, so provide real experiences.

-- Learn through play.

Children truly do learn through play. They should be hypothesizing, experimenting, failing and learning, digging, jumping and exploring. Of course, learning through play is a valuable tool year-round, but it is extremely important during this time of year. There is so much that can be gained through play, and kinesthetic learning is a tool that keeps students engaged both in the classroom and at home.

-- Stay positive.

As the countdown begins toward summer break, it is easy for adults to also get exhausted from the excitement of spring fever and the thought of summer. Do your best to stay positive. Spring is a time to rejuvenate.

So much energy and excitement can lead to amazing learning opportunities for our children. This is the time of year to plant with your children, play at the park, use sidewalk chalk, paint, hopscotch, cook, plan outside activities, sing, dance, begin thinking about summer travel and activities and keep them engaged in the process. Engaged children are happy children. Spring fever will only strike when the children are not engaged and the learning isn’t meaningful.

Jennifer Seybert is principal of University of Texas of the Permian Basin STEM Academy.